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Andechs Monastery: Ex-monk marries partner - Munich mayor marries couple

2021-03-04T14:10:40.033Z


The former Benedictine monk Anselm Bilgri left Andechs Monastery and recently resigned from the church. Now the former prior is marrying his long-term partner.


The former Benedictine monk Anselm Bilgri left Andechs Monastery and recently resigned from the church.

Now the former prior is marrying his long-term partner.

Andechs / Munich

- two people who love each other and want to tie the knot for life.

Actually the most natural thing in the world.

But this marriage is something special: The former prior of the Andechs Monastery, Anselm Bilgri, is going to marry his long-time friend next week.

This may come as a surprise to many, because the 67-year-old has never made his homosexuality public.

"Now I want to clear the table," said Bilgri on Wednesday in the Munich press club.

The corona pandemic * was also the decisive factor.

"We are all mortal, and I don't want to live secretly all my life."

His friend Markus is 27 years younger than Bilgri and works as a manager at Deutsche Bahn, as

Bunte

reports exclusively.

Unlike the former prior, he used to love women too.

"I already knew in the monastery that I was into men," says Bilgri, looking back.

Now he and his Markus will exchange the rings on March 12th.

And Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter (62) will trust her.

“Reiter and I have been friends since his time as an economic advisor,” reports Bilgri.

When he told Reiter about his marriage plans, he immediately offered: "Then I'll trust you."

Father Anselm left the Roman Catholic Church - and found happiness with the Old Catholics

For Anselm Bilgri, one thing is particularly important: a marriage with God's blessing.

“I want to be officially married and blessed in a church,” he explains.

This is now possible, because Bilgri announced in December that he had converted from the Roman Catholic Church to the Old Catholics.

This church does not demand compulsory celibacy, allows women to hold all ordinations - and trusts same-sex couples.

Here Anselm Bilgri can work as a priest again with a wedding ring on his finger.

“I think that's really good,” he says.

Bilgri was a Benedictine monk for 30 years; as prior, he renovated the Andechs * monastery brewery economically and built it into a brand.

He left all that behind.

Today he works as a book author, coach and lecturer.

And he has also arrived spiritually.

"I feel at home and accepted in the old Catholic Church."

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* Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-03-04

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